HB20: Futura On the Future of the T-Shirt

In celebration of his limited edition apparel collaboration with Hypebeast for our 20th anniversary, Futura weighs in on the T-shirt’s evolution as an artistic medium.

The HB20 capsule is officially live — visit the landing page to see the individual shirts in detail, as well as purchase your own while supplies last.

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Photos by 13thWitness

For our 20th anniversary, we’re honoring this legacy with a special curated exhibition. We’ve created a limited series of collaborative tees with longtime friends, creative partners, and some of streetwear’s most influential designers and leaders. Together, we want to reignite the energy of iconic graphics, logos, and messages from the past two decades — reimagined for today, and for what comes next.

In the following, we not only preview artwork from the upcoming anniversary exhibition, but also highlight the diverse perspectives of our collaborators whose insights help reveal the power of the T-shirt and give a glimpse into the past, present, and future of streetwear and creativity.

Futura, formerly known as Futura 2000, is a pioneering figure in the world of graffiti and contemporary art. Rising from New York’s subway scene in the 1970s, his abstract, almost cosmic style redefined what graffiti could be, earning him a place alongside the most influential street artists in history. Beyond walls and canvases, Futura’s work has crossed into fashion, sneakers, and design, collaborating with brands from Nike to Supreme. His signature handstyle and iconic atom motif continue to inspire generations, embodying a rare blend of authenticity, artistry, and cultural impact.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. We’ve used Futura’s preferred capitalization and stylization throughout.

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How long have you been designing, and how long have you been running your brand?

Futura: I’ve been designing since the late ’80s, and started my brand FUTURALABORATORIES about a decade later in 1997.

Our first post on Futura was in March 2005 — “Futura: Year in Pictures.” What’s your first memory of Hypebeast? What were your initial thoughts?

it was exciting to see the digital platforms arriving, and HYPEBEAST was most certainly at the forefront of content creation.

Futura has been a mainstay on our platform over the years and remains popular with our audience. How have you managed to stay consistent and relevant?

good question, and I don’t exactly have an answer. my audience is probably half my age, it’s a blessing.

“I’m looking out a decade — 2035 is closer than you think.”

How do you see your work — and your brand — still evolving in the years to come?

just having a mindset of creativity and putting in the work. the artist version of practicing free throws. you just keep shooting.

We’re releasing 20 T-shirt collaborations to celebrate 20 years of Hypebeast. Graphic tees have long been the backbone of streetwear — what do you think gives them that cultural significance? How has their role in fashion and style changed over time?

the tee shirt is the first social media event, the advertisement of a happening, a concert, a special celebration, or simply a brand, with a BOX LOGO. my favorite tee ever, was the “THRILLA IN MANILA” from ALI vs. FRAZIER in 1975. I didn’t make it to the fight, but I definitely embellished truth, based on the tee shirt, that suggested I was there. shoutout to SK8THG one of the GRAPHIC GURUS of our generation.

What advice would you give to emerging brands hoping to make a similar impact?

I don’t give advice to anyone, unless they’re doing things incorrectly. I wish to encourage, not tell people what to do. obviously, it helps if you’re passionate about what you do. or maybe, be a SHERPA of STYLE.

“It helps if you’re passionate about what you do. Or, maybe, be a SHERPA of STYLE.”

What’s the number one lesson you’ve learned from running a brand for this long?

the future is unwritten. someone or something is waiting for you, around any potential corner, you just have to turn right, not left, to enable the rendezvous. the beauty of uncertainty, is that the outcome is never known.

Looking back over the years, is there a particular product, collection or moment that meant the most to you?

the beginning, the early ’90s and learning how to use computers. the arrival of the web, and my first attempt to create a personal site. nothing for sale, just graphics and depth and getting lost in my labyrinth.

Streetwear has evolved dramatically over the past two decades, where do you see it heading next?

not going to disappear any time soon. I’m looking out a decade, 2035 is closer than you think.

Can you describe the design you created for this collaboration? What inspired it?

ROMAN NUMERALS, the number 20, the double XX’s, the arrival of a critical number, happy birthday HYPEBEAST.

What are your 5 favorite items you’ve made from the past 20 years?

FUTURA MONOGRAPH RIZZOLI. OFF WHITE DESIGNS. NEW YORK METS. BMW M2. KENZO PARIS.

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Stay tuned for individual interviews with each of our 20th anniversary T-shirt collaborators, rolling out each day over the next week.

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